GIS Sr. Specialist, FEWS NET

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Government (USG) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Created in 1985 in response to famines in East and West Africa, FEWS NET provides global coverage of acute food insecurity. FEWS NET’s work is implemented across several mechanisms through close collaboration among a team of government and university partners and Chemonics International (Chemonics). Chemonics implements FEWS NET’s Decision Support (DS) team, which is charged with providing integrated monitoring and analyses of current and forecast acute food insecurity in countries worldwide to support the USG’s policy and programmatic decisions. The DS Team operates through a Washington-based technical office and regional and select local FEWS NET offices established in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and eastern Europe.

Based on an in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, DS Team members monitor information and data on factors that affect food security, such as conflict, weather conditions, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. The FEWS NET DS Team produces regular reports, including Food Security Outlooks and Outlook Updates, emergency alerts, market and price updates, and targeted analyses. FEWS NET makes reports available globally to governments, relief agencies, and other organizations engaged in humanitarian response and development programs.  

The eighth phase of FEWS NET began in 2024. The work of the FEWS NET DS Team relies on close collaboration with international, regional, and national partners on food security data and information gathering and analysis. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data sharing and exchanges, and collaborative analysis and reporting. FEWS NET supports local and regional food security networks with the global objective of achieving food security for all. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

The GIS Specialist is a full-time position and is preferred to be based in the Home Office in Washington, D.C. though remote options may be considered for well-qualified candidates. The GIS Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the FEWS NET Data Management Advisor. S/He will also collaborate with the Washington-based technical and management teams and technical staff in FEWS NET country and regional offices, as well as with other FEWS NET implementing partners, as relevant. The GIS Specialist may be required to travel domestically and internationally, security and public health considerations permitting.

Position Description
The FEWS NET DS Team’s acute food insecurity early warning analysis and decision support products rely on geographic mapping and geospatial analysis tools to inform and visualize analysis of acute food insecurity. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are, therefore, essential to achieving the FEWS NET EWT’s core mandate.  
The FEWS NET DS GIS Specialist works under the Data Management Advisor and is responsible for supporting ongoing and new GIS activities across the team’s sectors (e.g., Decision Support, Markets and Trade, Livelihoods, Conflict, Nutrition).
The GIS Specialist will assist in the spatial and geographic coding of data and GIS shapefile management. The individual will also support ongoing and future initiatives related to data collection and survey tools, the production of high-quality visual analyses, and data visualization tools (including interactive data monitoring products and tools). In addition, the individual will assist with the identification and application of approaches to geo-spatial analysis in support of FEWS NET DS activities and sectors. 

Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the GIS Specialist include but are not limited to:

• Performing desk research on administrative boundary changes in FEWS NET countries
• Locating and identifying current and historical shapefiles for FEWS NET countries, ensuring that shapefiles have proper topology and are fitted to the FAO GAUL Admin0 (national) boundaries
• Producing tables and flow charts documenting changes in geo-spatial boundaries and relationships over time for eventual upload into the FEWS NET Data Warehouse (FDW) and/or other relevant systems as appropriate
• Maintaining FEWS NET’s global geo-database of shapefiles and mapping files, and updating relevant GIS products in the FDW or other relevant systems, when needed
• Supporting ad-hoc requests for thematic maps and other data visualization products
• Working with the data management advisor and DCOP-Innovation to develop strategic approaches for using GIS to improve DS Team analytical approaches and to build and integrate associated workflow processes
• Mentoring select DS Team staff to strategically develop DS Team capacity to use GIS as an input for analytical processes
• Organizing and submitting geo-spatial analysis, data, and products to the FDW, and/or other systems as appropriate, in accordance with FEWS NET DS data management processes
• Supporting and assisting in the design, implementation, and maintenance of the DS team’s new and/or existing mapping and geo-spatial analysis approaches for visualizing data to support both regular and ad hoc reporting and decision support efforts
• Engaging with the FEWS NET Data, Knowledge, and Learning Hub (FEWS NET Hub) and/or other FEWS NET mechanisms/partners to resolve GIS-related issues and questions, including through established collaboration channels such as collaboration meetings, email, and help tickets
• Assisting in the management and supervision of subcontractor task orders associated with geo-spatial data and GIS deliverables, as requested
• Providing in-person and remote recurring and ad hoc capacity strengthening to DS staff on GIS processes and geo-spatial analysis processes and tools
   

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, including professional experience with GIS platforms, data science, data curation, and mobile data collection technologies
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in a relevant field such as computer science, information systems, or GIS-related field required, Masters degree preferred
• Excellent skills in the use of GIS software, with particular experience in ESRI products, is required—including a demonstrated ability to handle and process non-standardized data is required
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; French, Spanish, and/or Arabic language skills are desired
• Demonstrated previous experience with statistical tools to perform analyses, such as Excel, PowerBI, or Tableau is desired
• Technical skills and knowledge in Python programming language is required
• Additional skills with databases, scripting, and use of cloud services are desired
• Demonstrated previous experience using large socioeconomic datasets for analyses is desired
• Excellent research skills and ability to focus on details is required
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing is required
• Demonstrated ability to provide guidance and capacity strengthening to adult learners is required
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multicultural team across numerous geographies is required
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity

Apply by 5/21/2025. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)